Kosmos

Culture, travel, fashion and culinary delights: the Kosmos pages of Lufthansa Magazin bring you interesting and useful tidbits from around the world

Lucky charms

Four-leafed clovers bring luck, and so do chimney sweeps – at least in Germany. People in Asian countries have very different lucky charms.

Paws up!

Feared as a gift, revered as a talisman: The Japanese maneki-neko, literally “beckoning cat,” promises wealth and happiness when its right paw is raised. A raised left paw is said to draw customers into your shop.

Welcome, Wealth

Chan Chu, a big old Chinese lucky frog with a coin stuck in its mouth, is not a pretty sight: Whatever you do, never turn him to face the door or happiness and prosperity will immediately depart through it.

Blessed with a Child?

There’s a curious new trend in Thailand, which has women carrying around life-sized dolls called “child angels” for good luck. After having them blessed by a spiritual leader, the women take them along virtually everywhere.­

Who else is celebrating?

Google, the Smart car, the iMac, Hong Kong International Airport and the cult film The Big Lebowski all turn 20 this year. Flying high in the charts in 1998: “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy” by The Offspring, “Frozen” by Madonna and “Big Big World” by Emilia.

Masterful model

Before they conquered Beijing in 1644, the rulers of the Qing dynasty had already created a miniature version of the Forbidden City in the country’s northeast. Although twelve times smaller, its inimitable design com­bined elements from Manchuria, Mongolia and China. In addition, the buildings that make up the Shenyang Imperial Palace, now a museum, are based on nomads’ yurts.

Reading lounge

In the past ten years, the number of visitors to Frankfurt has increased by 68 percent. In October, even more people will be arriving for the Frankfurt Book Fair. So it’s a good idea to plan ahead for your visit to this lively city: As the name suggests, the Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport is just minutes from the airport. Its casual atmosphere makes it perfect for leaf­ing through those books you just bought.